Push button and indicator



March 28, 1961 A. E. SHOWALTER ,9 7,4 8

PUSH BUTTON AND INDICATOR Filed Jan. 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 m INVEN ALBERT E. SHOWA LT ATTORNEY March 28, 1961 A. E. SHOWALTER PUSH BUTTON AND INDICATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1960 LOAD SEQUENCE SWITCHER INVENTOR ALBERT E. SHOWALTER ATTORNEY March 28, 1961 A. E. SHOWALTER 2,977,428

PUSH BUTTON AND INDICATOR Filed Jan. 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ALBERT E. SHOWALTER ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,977,428 PUSH BUTTON AND INDICATOR Albert E. Showalter, Allentown, Md., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the I Iavy Filed Jan. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 5,568

6 Claims. (Cl. 200-) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates in general to push button switches and in particular to panel selector switches wherein position selection is individually indicated at each switch.

The prior art discloses a number of switches actuated by a push button but few if any that provide for individual indication at the switch of the switch position. Most prior art devices for push button selection of position accomplish selection through independently positioned opposing-toothed racks. Where several push buttons are connected to a common shaft, indication of the push' button actuated is available only through observing the rotational position of the shaft itself or a shaft position indicator. Such indication is not adaptable where simultaneous indication of the position of several push buttons is desired, and to accommodate prior devices to simultaneously indicate the position of several push buttons would necessitate complex, bulky and costly changes. This complexity of instrumentation becomes serious in miniaturized equipment such as a transistorized communication receiver where the number of controls and circuits is generally unchanged but the space available for placement thereof is greatly reduced.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide apparatus by which separate functions or circuits can be selected individually by each of a series of push buttons.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a set of push button switches wherein each switch has an illuminated indicator thereby furnishing semi-automatic selection and automatic indication of a plurality of functions in a limited space.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 includes several views, one of which is isometric, containing particular elements of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the embodiment of Fig. I mounted in a control panel.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, frame 11 comprises basically two bars 12 and 13 mounted parallel to one another between end supports 14 and 15 which also parallel one another. A plurality of posts 17 and 18 extend perpendicularly from bars 12 and 13, respectively, and are connected across their tops by cross members 19 which include extensions 21 and 22 whose purpose will be described later. Cylinders 23 and 24 are rotatably mounted between cross member 19 and support members 26 and 27, respectively, which support members extend perpendicularly between and are 2,977,428 Patented Mar. 28, 1961 attached to bars 12 and 13. Cylinders 23 and 24 abut against extensions 21 and 22, respectively, and are hol lowed in their upper portion to receive electric light bulbs 28, which are shown in Fig, 2B, whose base insulation 29 extends through openings in extensions 21 and 22, respectively. Contact arm 31 is attached to but electrically isolated from cross member 19 and extends to bulbs 28 making electrical connections with center contact 30 thereof. The surface of cylinders 23 and 24 nearest bar 12 is notched in ratchet form as indicated at 33 once for each facet 34 of the cylinder with a pawl 35, shown in Fig. 20, attached to support members 26 and 27 and positioned so as to prevent rotation at each ratchet of the cylinders in a selected direction.

Attached to the upper portion of end supports 14 and 15 is bracket 38 on which is rotatably mounted elongated cylinder 39 having notches as indicated at 40 for rotation control and an electric light bulb 42 at the end opposite the notches. Bracket 38 is rotatable about and held in place by lugs 45 and 46 which are attached to bolts inserted into tapped holes in end supports 15 and 14, respectively. Cylinder 39 is rotated by linear movement of button 47 which is translated into rotary movement by means shown in Fig. 2. Movement of buttons 48 similarly causes rotation of cylinders 23 and 24 as shown in Fig. 2.

Figs, 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show in detail the operative components of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2A, bars 12 and 13 are shown slotted as indicated at 50 and 51, respectively, to accommodate slidable arm 52 which has button 53 attached at one end and is hollowed in the portion between bars 12 and 13 to receive spring 54. A two-point contact maker 57 is attached at the other end of each of slidable arms 52 to complete individual circuits to sequence switcher 58 when the slidable arms have traveled a selected distance. The sequence switcher in turn completes a circuit to the function, designated as load 59, identified on facets 34. A sequence switcher having four sets of contacts is used in this embodiment since cylinders 23 and 24 have four facets. Clip 55 is attached to one side of arm 52 and has a notched portion 56 extending toward a respective one of posts 17 to engage a gear not shown in Fig. 2A but which is shown in Fig. 2B. The gear, 60 in Fig. 2B, has a shaft 61 extending axially from one end and a collar 62 axially positioned opposite the shaft. The collar is serrated as indicated at 63 around its entire cross section to operate as a ratchet when spring-held against disc 64, the latter likewise having a serrated collar as indicated at 65 which mates with serrated cross section 63. Disc 64 is axially positioned on and attached to the Surface of cylinder 23 opposite electric light bulb 28. In the illustrated embodiment disc 64 is substantially embedded in cylinder 23, however, it can be appreciated that the disc may extend substantially below the cylinder without impairing operation of the device. A spring, 67, is placed over shaft 61, which is inserted into and pivots in a hole in support member 26. Cylinder 23 may have a raised flange 68 around the opening for bulb 28 to provide a bearing surface about which pressure from spring 67 may be distributed. Pawl 35 is attached to support member 26 and extends outward as shown in Fig. 2C and upward to contact with the ratchet notches 33 of cylinder 23. Spring 67 holds disc 64 in engagement with serrated collar 63 for transfer of rotary mo tion, while pawl 35 prevents counter rotation after selected positions of cylinder 23 have been rotated past the pawl.

In Fig. 2C, support members 26 and 27 are shown con nected across bars 12 and 13, and cross member 19 is shown connected to bars 12 and 13 by posts 17 and 18, respectively. Cylinders 23 and 24 appear in positionbe-w tween extensions 21 and 22 of cross member 19 and support members 26 and 27, respectively, with contact arm 31 attached to but electrically isolated from cross member 19. Contact arm 31 has a lug 71 to which are attached leads 72 through which electrical energy is furnished the center contacts 30 of the bulbs. The electric circuit through the bulbs is completed to ground. Pawl 35 is shown as it is attached to the support members.

Elongated cylinder 39, which is positioned over the bank of cylinders 23 and 24, is shown more in detail in Fig. 2D. Slidable arm 8% and spring 88 are very similar in construction and function to slidable arm 52 and spring 54, however, clip 81 is constructed as shown to position the notched portion thereof in engagement with gear 82. The gear is identical to gear 60 and transfers rotary motion to cylinder 39 exactly and with identical components as does gear 69 to cylinder 23 as shown inFig. 2B. Cylinder 39 is ratcheted as indicated at 83 and prevented from reverse rotation by pawl 84 attached as shown to brocket 38. Lead 72 carries electrical energy to bulb 85, with a circuit completed to ground as for bulbs 28. Lugs 45 and 46 secure bracket 38 in position, and are loosened to permit movement of the bracket away from cylinders 23 and 24 for easy'access to the components associated therewith. Facets 86 of cylinder 39 may display separate series of functions of the mode of reception indicated at 91 which are to be activated by operation of push buttons 48.

In Fig. 3, push buttons 47 and 48 are shown exterior to panel 90 with cylinders 23, 24 and 39 appearing in openings in the panel. Cylinder 39 is rotated by operation of push button 47 to providea selected number of arrays of color-coded settings, identified by facets 86, required to accomplish the mode of reception indicated on the larger facet 91 nearest push button 47.

The operation of the device is begun by pressing push button 47 and releasing it the number of times required to bring into view that portion of the periphery of cylinder 39 containing the mode of reception, indicated at 91, desired. Pressure against push button 47 will produce movement of arm 88', and clip 81 attached thereto, perpendicular to the face of panel 90. Spring 88 is compressed by movement of arm 80 into the panel with the notched portion of clip 81 interacting with the teeth of gear 82 to produce rotation of the gear. Cylinder 39 rotates with gear 82, the degree of rotation accomplished in one movement of push button 47 being governed by the diameter of the gear and the length of the notched portion of the clip contacting the gear. As the push button is returned to the rest position by spring 88 after pressure thereon has been released, the notches on'clip 81 will cause rotation of cylinder 39 counter to that caused by pressure on push button 47. A portion of this counter-rotation is utilized to position the desired facet 91 in the appropriate panel opening. Pawl 84 arrests counter-rotation at the desired point, and further counterrotation of gear 82 merely causes slippage of the serrated collar, see 63 in Fig. 2B, over the serrated edge of the disc, see 64 in Fig. 2B, axially attached'to the cylinder. As slippage occurs, the collar is forced away from the edge attached to the cylinder by the slopingportion of the ratchet teeth alternately compressing and releasing the spring, see 67 in Fig. 23, holding the disc and gear collar engaged. In this manner push button 47, in its return to the restposition, is prevented from mis-aligning cylinder 39 and the opening in panel 90. 'In the il lustrated embodiment the periphery of cylinder '39 is shown divided into four sectors, however, it is noted that the number of sectors may vary within limits as desired with centering opposite the panel opening accomplished by the positioning of ratchet notches 83.around the periphery of the cylinder and the position at which pawl 84 stops counter-rotation of the cylinder.

The cylinders are preferablyof Lucite or a similar substance which will diffuse light from the bulbs throughout their lengths thereby providing illumination of all portions of their peripheritw. The settings of cylinders 23 and 24 required for a particular mode of reception are indicated by the facets 86 in line with a particular facet 91. It will be appreciated that a person unfamiliar with technical factors involved'in selecting a mode of reception and its accompanying'settings may nevertheless make all proper settings upon being apprised of the appropriate mode of reception.

With the appropriate mode of reception appearing in the panel opening, operation of push buttons 48 is the next and final step in actuating the device. Since the mechanical operation of each of push buttons 48 is identical, that of the button designated PWR only willbe described. Cylinders 24 are supported between and positioned by support members 27 and extensions 22 of cross members 19. Disc 64 is axially attached to the surface of cylinder 24 adjacent to surface 27 and is held engaged with the serrated portion of gear 60 by tension in spring 67. In the rest position, arm 52 and clip 55 attached thereto are in the positions indicated in Fig. 1. Movement of push button 48 toward the panel causes the notches on clip 55 to impart rotation to gear 60 which is in turn imparted to cylinder 24 through disc 64. Arm 52 is spring loaded by spring 54 so that upon release of pressure onbutton 48 it and arm 52 are returned to the rest position causing counter-rotation of gear 60. Counter-rotation is transmitted through the slanted portions of the serrations indicated at 63 and 65 and is stopped when pawl '68 abuts against the vertical portion of the serrations. With the cylinder prevented from further rotary movement, counterrrotation beyond this point produces slippage of serrations 63 over serrations 65 and accompanying compression of spring 67. I

Although in the illustrated embodiment cylinders 23 and 24 have four facets, it will be appreciated that the number may vary within limits with centering of a particular facet opposite the respective panel opening accomplished by the positioning of ratchet notches 69. It will be also appreciated that though the composition of some of the elements of the illustrated embodiment has been specified, it is possible for the embodiment to be constructed and to operate with elements composed of material other than that stated. For example, the cylinders have been stated as composed of Lucite yet a metal cage or frame, or a plastic cage or frame of sufiicient strength'to function as solid cylinders, would be adequate replacements for the Lucite cylinders specified. Further, the interaction of a notched slidable arm and a corresponding gear may be accomplished other than as shown and described, such as by 2. prong attached to the slidable arm striking a notch of a ratchet replacing the gear, within the concept of this invention. Slidable arm 52 need not extend through bar 13, it being possible to have the arm severed between bars 12 and 13 so that the portion having push button 48 attached will override the portion attached to bar 13 upon the push button being moved toward bar 13.

In a second embodiment of the invention, not shown, ratchet notches 69 may be surfaced with a metallic conductor to provide direct completion of an individual circuit in lieu of completing circuits by operation of sequence switcher 58. When so surfaced, each conductor may be connected to the circuit identified on the cylinder facet, completing that circuit through the pawl to ground upon contact between the pawl and the ratchet notch. Other requirements for completing such circuits are common connections from each notch to a common contact on the cylinder periphery and stationary contacts each connecting a separate circuit disposed about the periphery for sequential connection with the common contact. In this manner, a plurality of circuits may be individually completedin compliance with the settings displayed on cylinder 39 which indicate circuit requirements conforming to a specified mode of reception.

It is noted that cylinder 39 is shown with but one line of settings for cylinders 23 and 24 whereas several such lines may be spaced around the periphery to indicate several co-linear groups of settings. It is also noted that cylinders 23 and 24 are shown with but one facet whereas they, likewise, may have several facets spaced around their peripheries.

It will be understood that a primary advantage of the present invention is the inclusion of a number of individually selective push buttons, illuminated indicating cylinders rotated by operation of a respective push button, and an illuminated display of program or group settings of the push buttons in a relatively small space on a panel or other support. Separate functions in electrical or electronic equipment can be energized, with a person unfamiliar with required groupings of functions nevertheless enabled to make proper settings and provide connection to the desired circuits. Thus, the complexity of control panels can be reduced through use of the invention without loss in the number of modes of reception available or in settings within a particular mode.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible pursuant to the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that its practice is not to be limited by the specific examples in the foregoing description and that this invention is only to be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A push button circuit selector and indicator comprising a frame having a series of push button switches mounted therein, first indicating means including a group push button selection indicator for indicating a plurality of group settings to be made by said push button switches, said first indicating means disposed adjacent to said series of push button switches so as to display one of said plurality of group settings, and a series of second indicating means equal in number to said series of push button switches, each of said second indicating means connected to a respective one of said push button switches so as to indicate the individual connection made by each of said push button switches.

2. A push button switch having a plurality of selective position indications comprising a housing having a plurality of arms mounted therein disposed to slide partially therethrough, a plurality of fixed contacts disposed on said housing equal in number to said plurality of arms, a plurality of movable contacts attached one each on said arms for movement therewith and disposed so as to engage a respective one of said fixed contacts upon a selected linear travel of each of said arms, a plurality of first indicating means mounted on said housing equal in number to said plurality of arms, each of said first indicating means including a shaft coaxial therewith rotatably mounted in said housing, each of said first indicating means having an axial periphery divided into a plurality of equal divisions, motion transfer means connected to each of said arms disposed to rotate a respective one of said shafts upon said selected linear travel of said arms, and detent means equal in number to said first indicating means each attached to said housing and extending to a respective one of said first indicating means, said first indicating means being notched at each of said divisions to receive a respective one of said detent means and stop rotation of said first indicating means at said divisions.

3. A series of push button switches each having a plurality of indicated settings for use in conjunction with a group push button selection indicator having a plurality of group settings comprising a frame having a plurality of elongated support members extending transverse thereto, an equal plurality of first indicating means each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said plurality of support members and extending substantially perpendicular thereto, an equal plurality of arms mounted in said frame disposed to slide partially therethrough, each of said arms disposed parallel to and substantially opposite a respective support member, motion transfer means attached to each of said arms for transfcrring linear movement thereof to rotary movement of a respective one of said indicating means, each of said arms responsive to pressure in a selected direction and having resilient means connected between it and said frame for counter-pressure in a direction opposite to said selected direction upon release of said pressure, electrical switch means including a movable contact attached to each of said arms for completing an electrical circuit upon actuation of said arms, said group push button selection indicator disposed adjacent to said plurality of indicating means, said group push button selection indicator having a plurality of linearly disposed facets each indicating a setting to be made on a respective one of said plurality of push buttons, and rotating means for rotating said group selection indicator to display a desired one of said linearly disposed push button settings.

4. The device claimed in claim 3 including limiting means attached to said frame positioned to abut against each of said plurality of arms and stop movement thereof upon said selected travel of said arms, detent means attached to said frame disposed one to each of said indicating means, each of said first indicating means having its periphery notched to receive a respective one of said detent means and stop rotation of said indicating means at said notches, and illuminating means inserted within said first indicating means and said group selection indicator for illuminating the indication of the respective electrical circuit which has been completed.

5. The device claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said first indicating means includes a rotatable cylinder having its periphery divided int a plurality of facets with each facet corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of facets of said group selection indicator, detent means attached to said frame disposed one each to each of said first indicating means, each of said plurality of facets of said first indicating means being notched to receive a respective one of said detent means and stop rotation of said first indicating means at said notches, each of said notches including an electrical contact, and connecting means including a common contact on the periphery of said first idicating means electrically connected to each of said contacts and a plurality of fixed contacts each corresponding to a respective one of said plurality of facets, said connecting means disposed on said frame such that upon rotation of said first indicating means said common contact will make connection with that one of said fixed contacts indicated on said facet.

6. The device claimed in claim 2 wherein said motion transfer means includes an elongated extension positioned transverse to said shaft and having notches along one edge disposed toward and adjacent to said shaft, a gear mounted on each of said shafts having teeth extending toward and engaging said notches, a first collar mounted on each of said gears coaxial therewith and having ratchet notches extending axially toward a respective one of said first indicating means, a disc attached to each of said first indicating means opposite said first collar, said disc having a second collar with ratchet notches mating with said ratchet notches of said first collar so that rotation of said first collar in a selected direction will cause rotation of said second collar while rotation of said first collar in a direction counter to said selected direction will cause slippage of the notches of said first collar over the notches of said second collar, a spring positioned around each of said shafts between said housing and said gears to maintain said first collar in contact with said second collar during operation of said switch.

Avery Aug. 25, 1953 Stoner et a1. Apr. 26, 1960 

